A lot of people are very hesitant to get any type of surgery, especially one that involves the mouth. It can be a very painful area to deal with and it requires using every day to eat with!
So it is understandable why one would be leery of oral surgery. One of the best reasons to get dental implants is for digestive health.
When you are missing teeth, your food will not be chewed as well and that can lead to digestive issues down the road. Another great reason for implants is so one does not have to insert and take out dentures every day.
Implant dentistry is a very detailed business. It involves careful planning from a highly trained dentist; preferably one who is very experienced.
The first thing that must happen is for the patient and the dentist to discuss what the goals are. The dentist really must also give the patient all of their options for dental care, what the expected outcome will be and all the risks and benefits must be discussed.
The history of the patient is important as well; both medical and social history. Diseases that can reduce the success of implant surgery are diabetes, and habits that restrict blood flow and healing, like smoking.
When a dentist is planning an implant surgery, study models of the patient's jaw are necessary. These are made from molds of the mouth.
A surgical stent can be made from the model to act as a guide to the dentist when they place the implant into the patient's mouth. X-rays of the jaw are equally important to work with.
Typically an X-ray of the jaw and then one of the entire mouth are taken. Some dentists even use CAT scans to give them a more accurate representation of the amount of jawbone that exists to work with.
The dentist will also need a clinical examination to determine if there is enough bone width to fit an implant. If the implant is being used to replace a single tooth, there needs to be adequate room between the existing teeth so that the implant does not damage the surrounding tooth roots.
A bone graft may be required if the X-ray or CAT reveals that there is not enough bone height to place the implant. Traditional dentists can place implants into the jaw but sometimes a periodontist, who is a gum disease specialist, or even a surgeon, will do the procedure.
The beginning of the procedure requires a local anesthesia to numb the area the dentist is working with. Most patients tolerate this procedure quite well and this can be done while awake or with light sedation.
An incision is made into the gum to expose the underlying bone. The stent is placed over the jaw to guide the implant placement.
A series of drills in progressively widening diameters are used to create a hole in the bone. The implant is then placed into the hole so that the top of the implant is at or slightly above the top of the bone, where it meets the gum line.
A screw is then inserted into the implant to prevent the gum and other fragments from entering the implant. The gum is then stitched up over the implant.
After implant surgery, denture wearers will be asked to not use their denture for two weeks as the implant(s) heal. An antibiotic mouth rinse is usually given during the first few weeks after implant surgery.
Antibiotics and pain medication are prescribed routinely to prevent infection and alleviate pain. After the implants are placed, they require 3 to 9 months to connect to the jawbone.
The lower jaw generally requires 3 to 6 months, and the upper jaw requires 6 to 9 months to connect. This process, where bone grows into the implant, is called osteointegration.
Once connected to the bone, crowns, permanent bridgework or dentures can be fastened to the implants. So while this procedure sounds painful and complicated, it can go quite smoothly.
Some patients are getting this done to correct bad teeth to have a more cosmetically pleasing look to their smiles. Others have serious infections in their teeth and gums that require implants for their overall oral health.
Either way, with technology on our side, this can be a great way to heal your smile.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and cosmetic dentist in Las Vegas. He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
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